Defendants Argue Severance of Miss. Cases Necessitates Transfer of Plaintiffs

JACKSON, Miss. -- Several Mississippi defendants have joined in a motion to transfer a 19-plaintiff lawsuit recently remanded by the welding rod products liability litigation MDL court, contending that Hinds County is no longer the proper venue for the case because the MDL court issued an order severing the claims. Ruth, et al. v. Lincoln Electric, et al., No. 251-01-960CIV (Miss. Cir. Ct., Hinds Cty.).

In a motion filed April 20 in the Mississippi Circuit Court for Hinds County, Caterpillar, Inc. requested that the claims of Charles and Katrina Ruth be transferred from Hinds County Circuit because neither of the …